Crafting My Own Chaos
If you have watched TV in the last eight years, you’ve undoubtedly seen Allstate’s Mayhem commercials. It starts out benign enough. The actor sets up the scene, giving verbal cues to what is happening and what is about to happen. It never ends well and the tagline is “get better protected from Mayhem… Are you in good hands?”
Mayhem has played everything from a spring breeze to a hail storm, a raccoon to a deer, even a toddler to a hot babe jogging. I get a little chuckle out of Mayhem’s antics but in all reality, if I were in those situations I probably wouldn’t be laughing.
Mayhem, chaos, disorder, havoc, confusion, or the proverbial hot mess, are all the same. No good comes from any of it. Chaos and mayhem can start from anything just like in the commercials. Sometimes it’s just the world around me and sometimes it’s because my eyes or my mind wander. I searched my Bible, I couldn’t find one instance where chaos or confusion ended well for those in it or suffering from it.
I was calmly sewing in my sewing room piled high with fabric, ribbon, stuff that needed to be taken to the thrift store, along with old paint and tools while there were dishes to be done, floors to be vacuumed, so on and so forth. I sat sewing because it was the only thing I wanted to do and I didn’t want to address the other issues. For a brief moment, I saw the chaos. I realized that chaos had manifested itself physically. Not only was I avoiding my housework, I was eating poorly and just making poor choices overall. Usually, I love to sit outside and do some gardening, but I didn’t even want to do that. Everywhere I turned I began sensing the chaos creeping in and I didn’t like it. Moreover, I know it doesn’t end well.
My inner chaos had led to an outer manifestation much like the Mayhem commercials. I was crafting my own chaos.
It could be seen physically in both my house and yard, the extra pounds on the scale. I felt it mentally, my brain was foggy and very “feely”, while spiritually just kind of blah and judgmental. None of us are exempt from mayhem and confusion. I think it’s a result of sin entering into the world. As much as I would like to say I’ve got it all together, I don’t and from time to time chaos creeps in and honestly, sometimes I create it.
So, what’s a girl to do?
Recognize there’s a problem.
The hardest part was admitting to myself that I have a problem. As I looked around my house and yard, I could see the to do list piling up. Not to mention, the numbers on the scale were creeping higher and higher. I had to be honest with myself.
Ask for and accept help.
I chose to hire someone to take care of the yard in this situation, but other times when chaos has crept in I have sought out a trusted friend or gone to a professional counselor. Help is help is help. There are many other avenues of help throughout the community, in churches, and groups. Just reach out and I promise, God will lead you.
Create a chaos free area.
My bedroom is my sanctuary. I began by cleaning out of most of the clutter and freshening it up. I try really hard to make my bed every day. Also, I constructed my goldfish pond and fountain for the upcoming spring, summer, and fall. These are places I can be without the reminder of the chaos for just a bit. Not surprisingly, these areas just happen to be my prayer places. Yours may be different than mine and that’s okay. The key is to have a space where you’re not reminded of all the to do’s. The shower or bath is another great space.
Everyday start again.
I know I’m going to blow it today. There’s going to be something that I did wrong or a task I didn’t finish. It might really be that I just wanted to escape it all and sew. Every night I go to bed and take stock of what I did accomplish. Sometimes it’s as simple as showering or going to the grocery store or talking to someone. I say to myself each night “Tomorrow is a new day.” Each morning, I say to myself “Today I can choose to do something different than yesterday.”
Really, when it comes to chaos and mayhem, I thought this commercial summed it up pretty accurately.
So, are you in good hands?
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~Isaiah 41:10
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Oh my, what an insightful look at a life that seeks God, but still struggles to find relief from this world’s chaos!! Love your perspective, and I will now seek where I want my places of chaos-free peace to be…thanks, Laura!!
This is a transparent post, and I hope it encourages other readers as much as it does me. We are wise to seek help—good, reasonable people are available when we are willing. I meet with a terrific listener on a regular basis who not only hears what’s under my mood swings but who prays for me and follows up. We are blessed!
I feel a little bit like you were in my head when you wrote this. And your vidoe choice? PERFECT! 🙂